News
Increased carotenoid intake may reduce hip fracture risk
18 January 2013
According to a new study from China, consumption of food rich in carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, may decrease the risk of hip fractures for lean men.
15 September 2011
“Most foods contain several naturally occurring nutrients at relatively low levels. The addition of nutrients to foods, either by enrichment (replacing nutrients lost in processing) or fortification (adding nutrients at higher levels than naturally occur in the food), enhances levels of one or more nutrients in certain foods that are widely consumed, thus raising intakes to more desirable levels. In the US, most grain products are enriched and a variety of other food products are fortified. For example, bread is enriched with thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, and iron ; most cereals are fortified with added iron and B vitamins, including folate, and most milk is fortified with vitamin D. In addition to obtaining nutrients from foods, many Americans use nutrient-containing dietary supplements (1). One-half of Americans (aged over 1 year) use dietary supplements, with multivitamin/ mineral supplements being the most common (2).
Unlike in the USA, in Europe fortified staple foods play a comparatively small role in increasing the intake of micronutrients. Even with the inclusion of dietary supplements most children and adults do not exceed the tolerable upper intake level (3). Given that fortification practices and dietary supplement use are very different in the US compared to Europe, this study aimed to determine total usual nutrient intakes for 19 micronutrients from all sources as well as the relative contributions of foods, fortified and enriched foods, and of dietary supplements within a nationally representative sample of the US population from 2 years of age (4).
Study results:
In conclusion, large percentages of the American population had micronutrient intakes below the EAR. Compared with intakes from naturally occurring nutrients, enrichment and/or fortification significantly improved intakes of several key nutrients. Dietary supplements added to the intakes of those who used them and further reduced the percentage of the population below the EAR.
The percentage of individuals exceeding UL due to intakes from enriched and/or fortified foods and from dietary supplements was relatively small. The proper application of UL values has been the topic of considerable debate. The UL is the highest level of daily intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health (5). As intake increases above the UL, the risk of adverse effects may increase. However, the UL is based on a risk assessment approach and it is not recommended to be used as a rigid standard or cutoff point; other factors must be considered to assess any possible adverse health effects of intakes exceeding UL values. More research is needed on the adverse health effects, if any, from intake levels exceeding the UL, especially because the UL for children for several nutrients, including folate, zinc, and vitamin A, were based on data with considerable limitations, including insufficient dose-response and toxicity data (6, 7).
Health professionals must be aware of the contribution that enrichment and/or fortification and dietary supplements make to the micronutrient status of Americans. Without enrichment and/or fortification and supplementation, many Americans do not achieve the recommended micronutrient intake levels set forth in the Dietary Reference Intake.”
Boston, August 2011
18 January 2013
According to a new study from China, consumption of food rich in carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, may decrease the risk of hip fractures for lean men.
8 January 2010
A study in human colon cells describes a diet-responsive regulatory network that controls vitamin A production from beta-carotene and intestinal lipid absorption.
1 July 2015
Crohn’s disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disease which affects the gastrointestinal tract. The underlying causes are unknown. Low vitamin D levels have previously been implicated in severe attacks. A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted by Raftery et al. at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, indicates that vitamin D supplementation may prolong remission in Crohn’s disease patients.